POSTAL OFFICER'S LAPSE.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1401, 8 September 1923, Page 5

POSTAL OFFICER'S LAPSE.

PLEA OF GUILTY. TWO YEARS' PROBATION. (Bv Telegraph. —Press Association.) HAMILTON, Friday. A young man named Lyell Reilly pleaded guilty before Mr Justice Cooper to-day on a charge of stealing as an officer of the Postal Department at Takaka, £3, the property of the Postmaster General. In asking for probation for the prisoner. Mr G. P. Finlay said his client was in a local hotel when the publican paid him £3 for bureau fees. He pla:ed the money in a drawer, but later i-"ii>iring aome cash, took the money, intending to put it back very shortly afterwards. However, he was transferred to Te Kuiti, whoie he remembered the £3 and forwarded it on to the publican asking him to pay it into the post office. This was before any inquiries were made at ail, and not from any fear of prosecution. Mr Finlay put in a testimonial signed by almost every resident of Takaka, in which prisoner was spoken of very highly. His Honour said judges had steadfastly set their faces againsi admitting to probation officers who committed bleaches of trust. Of ooirse. it would be absurd to lay down a hard and fast rale - circumstances must be taken into account, and he thought the circumstances in this case justified an exception being made. As no actual dishonesty was shown he placed prisoner on probation for two years on statutory conditions, and ordered him to pay the costs of the prosecution.